Picnic table and bench



y 24, 1934- G. L. PFLUKE 1,967,590

PICNIC TABLE AND BENCH Filed July 7, 1933 Patented July 24, 1934 PICNIC TABLE AND BENCH George Lansing Pfluke, Utica, N. Y. Application July 7, 1933, Serial No. 679,370

1 Claim.

My invention relates to a picnic table and I declare the following to be a full, clear, concise and exact description thereof suiiicient to enable anyone skilled in the art to which it appertains to 51 make and use the same reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout.

The object of the invention is to provide a knock-down table that can be packed in a small 101 case for portability. Such a table would be particularly useful for automobile parties when going on a picnic. The table being of knockdown variety, it could be easily packed and carried in the automobile and quickly set on the picnic 15Igrounds at arrival for use as a table.

Many other uses will be found for the table than that above mentioned.

The object will be understood by referring to the drawing in which,

Fig. l is a perspective View of the table.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail showing a perspective view showing one of the supports of the table with the standards which are pivoted thereto folded within.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing an enlarged detail of one of the seats and standard connected thereto, parts being broken away.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the case in open position, showing the parts of the table disposed .therein.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the table embodies supports 1, 1 disposed at opposite ends of the table. Each of these supports comprises standards 2, 2 made of channel iron. Furuhermore each of the standards 2 is pivoted at 3 to a horizontal supporting bar 4. Supporting bar 4 is made also of channel iron. One f the standards 2 is pivoted at one end of said channel iron 4 and the other standard 2, of smaller cross section is pivoted at the opposite end, whereby said standards 2, 2 will told one within the other and also within channel iron or support 4. The upper and lower ends 5 and 6, respectively of each of the standards 2 are beveled or formed at an angle to conform to the plane of the table and of the ground.

When in extended position, standards 2, 2 are disposed at an obtuse angle to support 4, providing a given amount of spread at their lower ends to aid in stabilizing the table.

The means for attaching seats 9, 9 in set up position embodies buttons 10, 10 mounted on the outer surfaces of each of the standards 2. Buttons 10 are adapted to be engaged by the corre- 55 isponding bayonet slots 12, 12 formed in a corresponding edge of bracket 13. The bayonet slots 12 and buttons 10 removably hold said brackets 13 to standards 2.

Each of the brackets 13 is pivoted at 14 at opposite ends to the seat member 9, whereby each of said brackets 13 can be swung down into parallel relation with the surface of seat member 9 when not in use. Furthermore the brackets 13 are held in extended position whereby to form a support for said seat by toggle members 29. Each of the toggle members embodies arms 21, 21 pivoted at one end at 22 to the flange portion 26 of seat 9 and the other at 24 to the flange portion 27 of bracket 13. Said arms 21 are pivoted to each other at 23.

The means for holding arms 21, 21, temporarily in extended position or prolongation of each other embodies an indentation formed on one of said arms which is to engage a corresponding counter projection on the adjacent arm 21. This indentation 25 and counter projection 29 will form a friction hold which can be broken easily when folding the parts.

The top portion of the table is supplied by the casing 28 which is made in the form of a suit case and when closed is made to house the several parts of the table. The parts of casing 28 embody in each instance panels 30A with sides 30B. Said parts form open box like members 30, 30 hinged at 31, 31, 31, whereby to permit said parts 30 to fold together and thereby provide a closed chamher for the parts of the table when dissembled. Locking members 35, are hinged to the upper edge of one of the parts 30 considering Fig. 4 and are adapted to engage the clips 36, 36 mounted on the corresponding edges of parts 30, whereby to hold said parts in closed relation to each other. Each of the locking members 35 is offset at 38, the thickness of the clip 36, whereby its edge will clear the adjacent edge of the nearer clip 36 when moved into engagement. The free end of each of the locking members 35 is bent back upon itself in a parallel manner to form an open space between adjacent parts of the same surface. This space between the parts of each clip being sufficiently wide to accommodate the combined thicknesses of clips 36, 36 when brought together in locking position. A handle 3'7 is attached to the upper edge of one of the parts 30.

The means for holding parts 30 on the top of bars 4 when assembling the table embody clips 36, 36, above mentioned, attached to the ends of parts 30. Each of the clips 36 is adapted to engage recess 41, formed in a corresponding clip 42 attached to the upper end of each of the standards 2.

In operation the table will be packed by enclosing seats 9 with the brackets 13 swung into closed relation therewith in the casing 28. Each of the seats 9 thus folded is laid flat and adjacent to each other in one of the parts 30 of the case 28. Likewise supports comprising the channel bar 4 with their standards 2, 2 folded therein is laid flat and in parallel relation to each other and with the seats 9. The parts of the casing 28 can then be closed and locking members 35 swung to engage lugs 36 to hold the casing in closed position.

When it is desired to use the table, the parts can be quickly assembled by opening each of the supports and spreading the standards 2 in relation to their respective bars 4 and then laying across the bars 4, casing 28 with its parts 30, 30 moved on its hinges 31 into a common plane. Clips 36 Will in this instance engage the apertures 41 formed in corresponding clips 42 attached to the top portion of standards 2, 2.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:

In a picnic table and benches, a table top formed of hinged sections, each section having a panel and sides to provide one half of a chamber 'to house the parts of the table when in knock- 

